Coca Cola’s newest soda “Hot Ginger Ale” hit Japanese vending machines on October 21 and we have an official RocketNews24 tasting review for anyone not daring enough to take on the hot, fizzy drink. So before you shell out 120 yen (US$1.20), take a look at what our expert vending machine beverage team has to say.
“Hot Ginger Ale” from Coca Cola
Canada Dry Hot Ginger Ale is the new and quite literally hot thing in vending machines this autumn in Japan. But this product did not come about easily. As many of you will no doubt know, heat can kill carbonation. So the company set out on a four-year journey to create a soda that could be enjoyed warm.
Warm, but fizzy
So of course, we had to buy a can of the much talked about drink. It was indeed warm to the touch, just like many other canned drinks from Japanese vending machines. And opening it up made the same “pop” you are used to from soda. We poured our hot ginger ale into a glass and it fizzed up just the same as a cold drink. So far, so good.
Candy-like taste
Before even actually tasting the ginger ale, the most surprising thing was just how fizzy this drink was. It seemed like the carbonation was even stronger than cold ginger ale.
After the first swig, the sweetness and ginger taste came like a punch to the throat. This was an entirely new sensation. The drink tasted like a fizzy hard candy.
A perfect drink to warm you up
After finishing our hot ginger ale, we felt the warmth move all around our body. This was certainly not something you would get some regular old cold ginger ale. This would probably be great for someone feeling a little under the weather during the cold winter months as it’s so sweet, warm and soothing.
The only downside to this drink is that the bubbles do not last very long. So unless you want to drink warmed-up sweet ginger water, we recommend drinking your hot ginger pretty soon after you open it!
Photos: RocketNews24
[ Read in Japanese ]
Ginger ale flavored soy milk coming to Japanese stores, buckets sold separately
Starbucks Japan adds new Ginger Ale Cloud non-alcoholic coffee cocktail to Tokyo Reserve menus
Japan’s Coca-Cola Plus Coffee is here to keep you both bubbly and caffeine-charged
Would you drink hot ginger ale from a can? Coca Cola thinks you will
What’s on the all-you-can-drink menu at Denny’s Japan? 【Family Restaurant Drink Bar Showdown】
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
7-Eleven Japan’s giant fried chicken skewer would be too big to eat, so it’s really for cuddling
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
Are Japanese convenience store sandwiches scamming us with their fillings?
Japan’s budget chain restaurant Saizeriya might just be the perfect first date location
Is this Japan’s most extreme cherry blossom viewing? Leap, cycle and climb through 2,500 sakura
We asked our Japanese team of writers how they deal with seasonal allergies in Japan
Kagoshima conveyor belt sushi chain Mekkemon rises above the rest with its special secret weapon
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan opens new cafe and art gallery in top Tokyo tourist neighbourhood
Komachi Shokudo: Japanese mum’s-style cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Tokyo
Pizza Hut Japan teams up with creator of one of the country’s best kinds of ramen for ramen pizza
The top 10 graduation songs in Japan as chosen by current Japanese high school students
Is Japan’s Crab-shaped Cup Ramen Timer worth the hype?
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Now is the time to visit one of Tokyo’s best off-the-beaten-path plum blossom gardens
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Kirin announces its entry into the peculiar new hot fizzy drinks market
Coca Cola Japan releases new flavour to combat the winter cold
Coca-Cola’s hot canned shrimp bisque: The newest reason Japanese vending machines are awesome
Japanese netizens explore the root of cola’s enticing taste
Cup Noodle Sodas: Culinary innovation or beverage abomination?
Alcoholic Coca-Cola set to go on sale in Japan as company enters the canned cocktail market
Japanese vending machines now have the strangest thing we never knew we needed: hot bottled water
Coca-Cola Japan brings out a new design bottle exclusive to Okinawa
In Japan, you can now get Coca-Cola pre-mixed with coffee【Taste test】
Can French fry and instant yakisoba-flavored sodas surpass kimchi as Japan’s best strange ramune?
Peach Coca-Cola coming to Japan in a world-first for the company
Coca-Cola’s new vending machines don’t need electricity during the day to keep drinks cold
We got our hands on a can of coffee-flavored Coca-Cola from Vietnam and it busted our senses
The cold getting to you? Have a warm drink — from a vending machine!
10 obscure Japanese vending machine drinks that fly under the beverage radar
Nissin Cup Noodle Soda gives us the flavour of instant ramen as fizzy drinks!
Canned zosui rice porridge poised to be new hot drink vending machine hero in Japan this winter